Can Loneliness Kill You?

Despite the fact that the world is more connected than ever, the percentage of adults in America who report feeling lonely has increased to over 40% during the 1980s.

If this is the case for you, should you be concerned?

Is it possible for loneliness to kill you?

Although it's quite subjective, loneliness is a psychological process meant to encourage you to seek out social relationships.

You are alone if you experience loneliness.

It just indicates that you aren't getting the social connections you need; it doesn't imply you're a recluse or don't have any pals.

Although we typically associate loneliness with the elderly, a recent study revealed that young individuals (16–24 years old) experienced loneliness at higher rates than any other adult demographic.

In a distressing study, researchers discovered that loneliness exacerbated the symptoms of colds.

After taking a loneliness scale test, hundreds of healthy individuals received nasal drops that contained the common cold virus.

At this point, the poor sick-induced participants were kept in a hotel room for five days, and the individuals who had shown higher levels of loneliness before the test also had higher levels of serious cold symptoms.

Have you ever observed that when you're hungry, food tastes better?

In fact, scientists have seen a similar behavior in relation to loneliness.

Those who scored higher on the UCLA Loneliness Scale demonstrated a larger response in the brain's reward system when shown an image of a loved one, while those who were not very lonely showed a similar response between the loved one and stranger when hooked up to fMRI machines.

This enables us to understand that those who are lonely don't always lack intimate connections; rather, it's because they want for more social engagement.

Additionally, long-term loneliness might alter your body's molecular makeup.

Studies have revealed that individuals who experience loneliness exhibit 209 distinct gene expressions in certain types of white blood cells, one of which is elevated pro-inflammatory transcription factor activity.

Although inflammation is a necessary reaction to an injury, persistent inflammation causes serious damage to your body.

Poor social ties are therefore associated with a 32% and a 29% risk in coronary heart disease and stroke, respectively.

Strong social ties are associated with a 50% higher chance of survival overall, meaning that those with these relationships are far less likely to pass away over the same time period! This implies that loneliness is just as lethal a risk factor as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day, not exercising, or being obese!

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So yes, the likelihood of dying does really rise with loneliness.

Furthermore, changes in our society may be linked to the rise in the number of lonely individuals; global capitalism and its emphasis on the individual have altered our capacity for social interaction.

Recognize that you're not alone if you're feeling lonely.

It typically has little to do with how likeable you are.

Is there a tiny action you can take right now to feel more bonded?

Make an effort to look people in the eye more deliberately, whether they are someone you know or just bystanders on the street.

According to studies, making eye contact is a gesture that increases both parties' sense of humanity.